Minutes, 14–15 February 1835

That he may be purified in heart, that he may  have communion with God. That he may be equal  with his brethren in holding the keys

In the early church, the term keys referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth “those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of...

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of this ministry  That he may be kept and be instrumental in lead ing Israel forth, that he may be delivered from the hands  of those who seek to destroy him: that he may be en abled to bear testimony to the nations, that Jesus lives.  That he may stand in the midst of pestilence and  destruction, he shall be mighty in the hands of God, in  bringing about the restoration of Israel. The nations  shall rejoice at the greatness of the gifts which  God has bestowed upon him, That his tongue shall  be loosed, he shall have power to do great things  in the name of Jesus. He shall be preserved and  remain on the earth until, Christ shall come  to take vengeance on the wicked. Confirmed

After baptism, new converts were confirmed members of the church “by the laying on of the hands, & the giving of the Holy Ghost.” According to JS’s history, the first confirmations were given at the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. By March 1831...

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